Why worry! Worrying is like walking around with an umbrella waiting for it to rain Wiz Khalifa Is worry written into life? It seems like it, if we have responsibilities, aims, if we love people. It’s said that if you’re not worried, you don’t really know what’s going on. And the news which bombards us daily, certainly feeds this acquired habit. Worry occupies a whole spectrum from occasional butterflies in the stomach to full-blown anxiety and is very expensive in terms of health and general wellbeing. Interestingly, the word itself derives from an Anglo Saxon word meaning to strangle or choke. So how can we stop worrying and start wising up? Join our speaker for this evening, Dr Kala Mistry, to unravel some of the threads in this pervasive habit and discover ways to move from worry into a loving concern. Dr Kala Mistry has been working in mental health as a community psychiatrist and studying Raja Yoga since 1992. She was the editor of the Janki Foundation for Global Health Care newsletter from 1999 to 2016 and a co-author of Values in healthcare: a spiritual approach, a training and educational resource for health practitioners. Kala conducts workshops for health professionals and the public on the themes of personal development, empowerment and spiritual values and has a longstanding interest in how thoughts and feelings affect wellbeing. Thursday 25th May 2023 7.00 - 8.00pm

A special evening with master yogi Charlie Hogg exploring the power of Love Our intellectual abilities help us handle the external world but often fall short when it comes to navigating the internal world, a world oftem dominated by an overactive mind, anxiety, feelings of self-doubt or a sense of superiority. When we cease to identify with our agitated mind, and drop into being, we experinence our true nature of love. In that stage, fear doesn't even have a side but melts away, leaving only love. Charlie Hogg, Director of Brahma Kumaris Australia, has been practising and teaching meditation for over 40 years. A senior teacher of the Brahma Kumaris, he has visited more than 80 countries as a speaker at international conferences and public programs. From his own experience, he believes meditation is an extraordinary tool to maintain mental, emotional and spiritual health in a world increasingly challenged by anxiety, stress and depression.

Most of us will need a little, or maybe a lot, of help at some point in our lives, whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual. In infancy this is both natural and necessary but in adulthood asking for help can feel like an imposition which can cause unnecessary struggling, as we avoid it at all costs. The offering of help can also carry many associated risks: such as the fear of appearing condescending, creating dependency and so on. There are so many hidden influences that can get in the way of healthy, good natured exchanges of giving and receiving. Our speaker, Marcelo Bulk will unpick some of these issues and explore what it means to be a friend in need and to receive help graciously. Marcelo has been associated with the Brahma Kumaris for 40 years and is the National Co-ordinator of the University’s activities in Colombia. He has worked as a business consultant and facilitator with several major companies in Latin America, Asia and Europe and is currently associated with the Union Consulting Group in Colombia and the Oxford Leadership Academy (UK). Marcelo lectures internationally on topics related to self-leadership, human values and meditation and is the author of The Pathway towards Leadership published in Spanish and Portuguese.

Probably most of us have experienced the feeling of rejection, even abandonment, at some time in our lives. A judgemental look, not being included, acknowledged or accepted can trigger deep beliefs that we aren’t good enough and hurt us in surprising ways. How can we build our resilience to rejection and be unashamedly our authentic selves no matter where we are or whom we are with? Maria Moreno has been a Raja Yoga practitioner and lecturer for more than 30 years. She coordinates the Brahma Kumaris centre in Valencia and is a member of the National Coordinating Team in Spain. Maria integrates her professional work as a Univers

Life is simpler for ourselves and others when we know how to create and maintain healthy boundaries. A boundary isn’t a 'no'. Rather it's a heart-felt 'yes' to ways of going about our everyday lives that are based on practical wisdom, respect and empowerment. A lively conversation between Rosemary Turberville-Smith and Christine Bell on this significant yet sensitive topic. Rosemary Turberville-Smith has spent many years abroad and her work has ranged from being an air hostess to running a busy MP's business office. Rosemary is a key player in supporting the activities in Global Co-operation House in London, where she studies and teaches Raja Yoga meditation and is part of the administration team. Bringing up a family and someone else's children brought its own set of problems but on discovering the Brahma Kumaris, Rosemary found a new perspective and focus in her life. Rosemary has a very warm and open personality and a wealth of insight and experience to share. Christine Bell has been a student and teacher with the Brahma Kumaris for over 30 years She is currently based at the National Co-ordinating office of the Brahma Kumaris in London where she is mainly responsible for organising and introducing their Thursday talks. Christine is a member of the Raja Yoga teachers group and gives occasional talks in London and around the UK which are renowned for their blend of humour, honesty and insight. She is the mother of three grown up children and grandmother of four.

Many of us start off our day or even our lives skipping joyfully along the path of discovery only to trudge home at night laden with the worries of the world, compressing our backs and spirits into a distorted painful limp. How do we decompress stress in such a way that, not only do we feel renewed and refreshed but we stop picking up extra baggage in the first place? Speaker: Mathias Steffen Mathias lives in Switzerland and is a stress and resilience coach and a former headmaster. Since discovering Raja Yoga during his travels in India, Mathias has found that by practically applying a spiritual perspective in his life, he has been able to deal with all sorts of people and challenges in a positive way. Mathias coordinates the activities of the Brahma Kumaris Centre in Zurich and is part of the National Coordinators Team in Switzerland.

Heroism is not only in the man, but in the occasion Calvin Coolidge Evidence of human greatness is all around us; whether it’s a professional going way beyond the expected, a parent who sacrifices personal comfort year after year or seemingly ordinary people responding to crisis situations in an extraordinary way. But what are the essential qualities underpinning heroism and are there common elements and experiences in unplanned acts of heroism? Join our speaker, Judy Rodgers to explore this fascinating topic Judy has spent much of her working life in media and as a consultant and communication strategist, working with businesses and universities. The emphasis in her work has been on the power of narrative, how the questions we ask ourselves and the stories we tell ourselves affect our life journeys. In 2004 she co-founded the Center for Business as Agent of World Benefit at Case Western Reserve University. In 2007 she co-authored a book on altruism called Something Beyond Greatness: Conversations with a Man of Science and a Woman of God. Since 2006 Judy has lived at the Brahma Kumaris’ Peace Village Retreat Center in the Catskill Mountains, north of New York City.

Conscience truly is that friend who gently or not so gently prompts us in the direction of our highest good. In fact a form of ‘conscience therapy’ suggests that most of our personal dilemmas can be solved by heeding its call. Whether it is improving health, relationships, mental well-being or finding our higher purpose, conscience faithfully guides us, and even if ignored, still waits in the wings for us to recognise it as the voice of truth that can truly set us free. Speaker: Rachel Priestman Rachel’s varied career has spanned librarianship, urban regeneration, PR and marketing, events and arts management - and a few other things in between. She currently volunteers with the Brahma Kumaris at Global Co-operation House in London, where she helps with media and public engagement activities.

Trusting the Journey If you feel impatient to move beyond obstacles and reach your destination as soon as possible, your very impatience can keep you stuck on a plateau. Each relationship, situation and moment contains the perfect conditions to unlearn the deceptions that keep you from seeing that the journey is timeless, and the destination is constantly present. Speaker: Linda Lee is based in Brighton from where she coordinates the activities of the Brahma Kumaris in the locality. Linda has travelled to many countries around the world sharing her enthusiasm for the practical yet simple way of life that the Brahma Kumaris wisdom teaches. She has a deep love for truth and always speaks from her own experience with refreshing honesty and humour.

Regaining Inner Strength Whether it’s changing a detrimental habit or facing new or challenging situations; when we lack inner strength, everything feels like a struggle. Our speaker this evening will explore how we can cultivate our mental and spiritual strength and build the resilience needed to successfully navigate the ups and downs of everyday life. Speaker: Hans Haiert Hans has been a student of the Brahma Kumaris since 1990 and helps in the coordination of the Munich Centre since 1995. He also assists with BK service on a national level in Germany. His speciality is to look at this spiritual knowledge from the universal perspectives of science, psychology and philosophy. Hans has shared his insights in lectures and seminars in more than 40 countries. A qualified lawyer, specialising in environmental laws, he also holds a degree in economics.

Colourful and vibrant are words we use to describe people whose energy brightens our day. However, when we forget our true selves and get stuck in negativity it’s as if we’ve turned down the brightness level on our soul, and we get stuck in a black, white and grey world. Since colours are frequencies, what does it feel like to be living the full spectrum of our true selves? Speaker: Shantanu Mandal is a graduate in Fashion Design from the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology in Kolkata, India and also holds a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. Shantanu is passionate about values and how they can be lived and applied in the fields of education, well-being, youth and the environment. In 2019, Shantanu was one of seven youths to be funded by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to attend COP 25 in Madrid. Since then he has been representing the Brahma Kumaris Youth at a number of high profile environmental conferences. Shantanu is currently living and volunteering for the national coordinating office of the Brahma Kumaris in London.

Embracing Equity - From the Inside Out Honouring the theme of International Women’s Day In humanity’s journey towards higher consciousness, we are witnessing the birth of a compassionate human family which seeks for all to survive and thrive as equals. Equality however, isn’t just the result of a society that makes room at the table for all, it is an eternal truth, which if recognised by the heart, makes equity a natural expression of our deeper spiritual kinship. Join Jane Kay in conversation with Sarah Trueman Jane first started meditating with the Brahma Kumaris in Brazil in 1981. She spent time in Brazil, Florida and Costa Rica co-ordinating activities for BK centres. Jane is currently a Teaching Fellow at the University of Leeds. She is a warm, engaging and insightful speaker with a wealth of experience. Jane enjoys sharing the wisdom contained within the teachings of Raja Yoga and the benefits of their practical application in her life. Sarah is an engaging facilitator with a light hearted and down to earth approach. She enjoys sharing the methods she uses to experience self-esteem. Sarah has been a student of Raja Yoga meditation for over 20 years, creating self-development workshops both for the Brahma Kumaris and as a self employed trainer and coach in the public and private sectors. She currently facilitates and coordinates events and social media for the Brahma Kumaris in Leeds.